The most photographed ridge in New Zealand: a steady farm track zigzagging up tussock from the lakeshore to a lookout where a spine of mountain runs out above Lake Wanaka's fingers and islands, with Mount Aspiring on the horizon.
Roys Peak is not technical: it's a farm road through sheep station land, steady and relentless, gaining about 1,300 metres with no shade at all. The reward is one of the great views of the southern lakes.
From the lakeshore car park, the track zigzags up tussock slopes for two to three hours to a lookout at about 1,200 metres, the ridge in the famous photographs, then continues to the 1,578-metre summit with its transmitter mast and a 360-degree view to Mount Aspiring.
Sunrise is the popular time, and in summer the queue for the photo spot can last an hour; mid-afternoon gives the same view with far fewer people. The track is closed from 1 October to 10 November for lambing. Isthmus Peak, on the road to Lake Hawea, is a similar climb with much smaller crowds and views over two lakes at once.
Up and back on the same track; allow two hours for the descent.
Cross the stile onto the station land and start up the grassy slope, sharing it with sheep.
Long switchbacks climb the open face. The view of the lake grows with every turn; there's no shade, so pace yourself.
A short spur leads to the viewpoint on the ridge. Expect a queue at peak times.
Continue on the track to the summit mast for a wider view: Aspiring, the Matukituki valley, Lakes Wanaka and Hawea.
Descend carefully on the loose gravel; poles help.
.jpg?width=1280)
The car park is about 6 km from Wanaka on Mount Aspiring Road. It fills early in summer; arrive before dawn or after lunch.
The track crosses private farmland and is closed each year from 1 October to 10 November.
Stay on the track, leave gates as you find them, and take turns politely at the photo spot.
Queenstown practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence.
.jpg?width=960)
.jpg){kind=link}
